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April 22, 2015 2:53 pm
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Rosh Hashanah Won’t Keep the Giants’ Geoff Schwartz From Season Opener

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avatar by Shiryn Ghermezian

Geoff Schwartz will play in his team's season opening game despite the fact that it falls on the eve of Rosh Hashanah. Photo: Twitter.

New York Giants offensive guard Geoff Schwartz responded to an outcry from Jewish fans on Tuesday, saying he will go ahead and play in the season opener despite the fact that it falls on the first night of Rosh Hashanah.

“Keep getting tweets about that being the first night of Rosh Hashanah… Don’t know what I’m supposed to tell you. It’s a tough break,” the Jewish athlete wrote, referring to the Giants’ on-the-road game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 13.

When asked by a fan on Twitter if he is going to play, Schwartz responded, “Yes. I don’t miss games for Jewish holidays.”

Some social media users took the opportunity to tease the athlete about his choice, admonishing in jest, “just matzoh ball soup and Gefilte fish for pregame meal.” Another asked Schwartz, “Will you be bringing apples and honey to the field?”

Schwartz was raised in a conservative Jewish household. His parents reportedly only allowed him and his brother Mitchell, who is an offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns, to play football after they were finished with their bar mitzvah studies at the age of 13. Schwartz fasted for Yom Kippur last year and has invited his college and NFL teammates to celebrate Chanukah with him in the past.

The Giants originally asked the NFL not to be scheduled for a game that coincides with Rosh Hashanah, but their request was denied this year, NJ.com reported. A Giants spokesperson said, “The first item on [Giants President] John Mara’s list of schedule considerations every year is asking that we not be scheduled for a home game during the High Holidays.”

Mara may find some consolation in the fact that the game will be played at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, and not in New York.

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